The unusual capture of Algis in the Gargždai quarries revealed a serious problem: it is not appropriate to behave in this way.

He thought that he had escaped

When catching an invasive red turtle, as it turned out later, Algis thought it had been escaped by someone, so he shared the news about the animal found with the Gargždai Facebook group.

However, no one responded to his message and he did not want to return the turtle.

Algis says the turtle caught him fishing, catching earthworms. Because he is an experienced fisherman, the turtle has been safely unhooked. The man left it where he had found it.

Environmentalists must be notified

After contacting Vitalis Maroz, Head of the Klaipėda Wildlife Protection Inspectorate of the Department of Environmental Protection (AAD), he confirmed from the photo that an invasive red turtle had been found.

“Red turtles are invasive, not of Lithuanian origin. They grow big enough. Chances are someone raised that turtle at home, grew too big, got tired of holding it, and just got rid of it by running to that race. These turtles quickly adapt to our environment, they displace other native species: they destroy plants, the creatures that try to eat. It is unfortunate that people acted irresponsibly in releasing such an animal. I understand his mercy, but these animals must be handed over to us, but certainly not released into nature, because they can cause damage and spread ”, says V. Marozas.

According to him, invasive animals are not desirable in the Lithuanian environment and environmentalists who have received such a turtle would already decide what to do with it.

Since the turtle is in a pond, it would be practically impossible for environmentalists to capture it, so V. Marozas requests to be notified again to the AAD after catching this turtle.

According to him, environmentalists who took such a turtle would try to find a new home for it. The institutions authorized to keep invasive turtles would be evaluated. There, these animals are kept until they die to their own death.

“If it is an invasive species, I think it should be eliminated. But we understand that an animal is not to blame for being in such a situation, it is an illegal human activity and it is precisely they who should be punished for distributing such animals. In the case of animals, we do our best to find a place to keep them. Putting these animals to sleep is a last resort and the last option that can be, ”said the head of the Klaipėda Wildlife Protection Inspectorate when asked about the fate of confiscated or invasive animals found in the wild.

Fines are imposed

Maroz says fines are being imposed for the importation and distribution of invasive animals. According to him, fines are also imposed for keeping such animals.

However, he says that the goal of environmentalists is not to punish humans, they want invasive animals not to spread in Lithuania and not in nature: “Our goal is to collect and isolate them so that they do not harm the flora and fauna of the country. . “

“If you keep the time and admire it at home, let it be, but if a person wants to get rid of it or worse, make a profit selling it, that person can be prosecuted. If people want to get rid of the invading animals, let them do it through from us. I do not believe that we will be held responsible in that case. Responsibility is assumed by malicious actions: the desire to yield, sell, release. We determine this through research. If a person wants to resign in good faith, it really should not exist that administrative responsibility ”, says the interlocutor.

The Code of Administrative Offenses stipulates that the possession, cultivation, breeding, propagation, exchange, introduction into Lithuania, export or transport through the territory of Lithuania and any other use in violation of the established procedure incurs a fine of 200 to 400 euros, administrators of legal persons or other persons responsible – from 300 to 600 euros.

The placing on the market of invasive species, the deliberate release into the environment or the deliberate introduction in breach of the established procedure carries a fine of 300 to 500 euros, and for administrators of legal persons or other responsible persons, from 800 to 1500 euros .

Grynas.lt has previously written about the creation of the same species of turtle in the Neris River, Vilnius. Later, the herpetologist Gerardas Paškevičius commented that these animals are often traded illegally in markets. He also highlighted that although these turtles are very small at first, they grow quickly and become quite large, so many no longer want to raise them. This species of tortoise is also considered invasive and therefore it is forbidden to keep it, which is why humans often dispose of it.

The full text can be found HERE.